Czech Public Media Workers Strike Over Funding Overhaul Plan

PRAGUE — Czech public media workers staged a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest a government plan to overhaul the funding mechanism for public broadcasters, a move critics say threatens editorial independence.

The proposed overhaul is spearheaded by populist billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, whose initiative has already sparked street protests in the Czech capital, Prague, in recent weeks.

Under the proposal, public radio and television would transition from a fee-based funding model to direct state budget financing. Critics warn that this shift would result in approximately a 15% reduction in funding, potentially leading to staff layoffs, reduced production, and program cancellations.

Critics argue that the funding overhaul would hand the ruling three-party coalition the tools to exert political control over public media, echoing populist trends in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Michal Kubal, chief news editor at Czech Television, described the strike as unprecedented in the history of the country’s public service media.

On Tuesday, viewers tuning into Czech Television saw on-screen announcements stating: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that we can continue to provide a public service in its full scope and quality in the future.”

According to Kubal, broadcast operations during the strike would be limited to archived footage and abbreviated news bulletins.

Throughout the morning, Czech public radio aired only music, punctuated by brief statements explaining the strike’s purpose and a minute of silence. Later in the day, university students marched through Prague and other major cities before joining planned rallies in support of public media.

Thousands of protesters gathered at Prague’s central Wenceslas Square, demanding the government withdraw the proposed funding legislation and calling for a thorough, transparent public debate on the issue.

The strike has received broad support from labor unions, university deans, churches, artists, athletes, and international media organizations.

“Such a funding model opens the door to political pressure and threatens editorial independence,” stated a joint declaration by the European Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and several other advocacy groups.

Another major public protest is scheduled for Prague’s Letná Park on November 15, just two days before the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, which ended over four decades of totalitarian rule.

Babiš, who has previously criticized public and mainstream media, formed a governing coalition last year with two small political parties known for extremist views, whose platform includes reducing support for Ukraine and rejecting key European Union policies.

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